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The Empty Throne

A Novel

The forces of Wessex and Mercia have united against the Danes, but instability and the threat of Viking raids still hang heavy over Britain's kingdoms. For Aethelred, Lord of the Mercians, is dying, leaving no heir and the stage is set for rivals to fight for the throne. Uhtred of Bebbanburg, Mercia's greatest warrior, has always supported Athelflaed to be Mercia's next ruler, but will the aristocracy ever accept a woman as their leader?

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"The Empty Throne" is one of Cornwell's Ancient Warrior is, as any loyal reader of this series well knows, one of eight tales in this series. Cornwell, a prolific author of historical fiction that hews very close to historical fact, has written over 46 novels, thrillers all.
"The Empty Throne" is set in what was much later to become England at the conclusion of the ninth century in what, much later, was to become England. The invading Danes warred against the four divided English kingdoms. Pagans fought Christians who fought the followers of the Norse god Odin.
These were brutal times. These were the times of the sword, the sea axe, the lance and the shield wall.
Protagonist Lord Uhtred, holds centre stage. And Cornwell makes him a real person, not a cut-out. He is someone with whom we can identify even though we do not hold his sword.
One thing though: the names. It seems as though half the characters are Aethesomethings: Aethelflaed, Aethelhelm, Aethelred, and Aehthelstan: I was challenged.
As usual, Cornwell's writing is crisp and compelling: it virtually oozes blood and guts: the foes' that is.

Another good addition to Uhtred's story. I like that his children get a part in this chapter of the saga. I wish his daughter could have her own spin off series, I think she would make a wonderful main character.